September 19, 2016
Ruanui bouyed by anti-mining support
South Taranaki iwi Ngati Ruanui has made the trip to Wellington support the handover of a 6000-name petition calling of a nationwide moratorium on seabed mining.
The petition was presented by Kiwis Against Seabed Mining to Green Party MP Gareth Hughes.
Spokesperson Debbie Packer says the iwi is again gearing up to fight a bid by Trans Tasman Resources to take ironsand from the sea floor between Patea and Hawera.
She says apart from a cultural impact assessment prepared by Tahu Potiki from Ngai Tahu, it’s the same proposal the Environment Protection Agency knocked back two years ago.
The difference this time is Ngati Ruanui knows it has widespread support.
"As Maori we always think we have to fight out battles alone. We've had the farmers, we've had the boating clubs, and it's not necessarily Maori who can afford the boats, we've had business people, we've had a lot of the community who support politicvial parties including National, some big funders and backers of National too that are standing with us and opposing this activity in our back yard." Mrs Ngarewa Packer says.
DEBBIE NGAREWA PACKER INTERVIEW
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com